Paladin Labs Inc. Reports Record 2008 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

MONTREAL, CANADA--(Marketwire - February 26, 2009) - Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX: PLB), a leading Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. The Company achieved record revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 and has achieved its 13th consecutive year of record revenues.

2008 Highlights

- Revenues for 2008 totaled a record $82.7 million, a 31% increase compared to 2007

- Sales of key promoted brands in 2008 grew 41% compared to 2007 including products: Tridural™, Twinject®, Plan B®, Pennsaid®, Metadol®, Seasonale™, Testim® and Trelstar®

- EBITDA(1) in 2008 increased 46% to a record $29.0 million compared to $19.9 million in 2007

- Signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for Dexedrine® and marked the beginning of a new strategic relationship

- Signed agreement with ProStrakan Group plc (LSE: PSK) for Abstral® and Sancuso®

- Acquired ViRexx Medical Corp., a Canadian-based development-stage biotech company

- Entered a distribution agreement with Mission Pharmacal for Urocit-K® for kidney stone treatment

"We have just closed our 13th consecutive year of record revenues and have built a diversified specialty pharma business that is dynamic, proven and high performing in all respects. Indeed, our key promoted products revenues increased over 40% in 2008 and our financial investment in new products was the largest in our corporate history. This expansion of our marketed portfolio and pipeline has been accomplished with exciting, medically important therapeutics that have the potential to drive strong, organic growth for the foreseeable future. We expect Paladin to breakthrough a significant Canadian business threshold in 2009 and become a $100 million company," said Jonathan Ross Goodman, President and CEO of Paladin Labs.

Financial Results

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 increased 30% to a record $23.1 million compared to $17.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Revenues from the Company's key promoted brands including: Tridural™, Twinject®, Plan B®, Pennsaid®, Metadol®, Seasonale™, Testim® and Trelstar® increased by 22% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period a year ago. For the year ended December 31, 2008, revenues increased 31% to a record $82.7 million compared to $62.9 million in 2007.

EBITDA(1) for the fourth quarter in 2008 increased to $7.4 million compared to EBITDA(1) of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2008, EBITDA(1) increased to a record $29.0 million compared to $19.9 million in 2007.

Net income before extraordinary gain for the fourth quarter 2008 was $2.0 million or $0.14 per fully diluted share compared to the same period in 2007 of $1.0 million or $0.07 per diluted share. Net income for the fourth quarter was $6.1 million or $0.41 per fully diluted share compared to net income of $1.0 million or $0.07 per fully diluted share in 2007. Net income before extraordinary gain for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $9.7 million or $0.65 per fully diluted share compared to $4.2 million or $0.27 per fully diluted share in 2007. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was a record $13.8 million or $0.92 per fully diluted share, compared to net income of $9.0 million or $0.59 per fully diluted share in 2007.

Selling and marketing expense for the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased to $5.5 million compared to $7.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Selling and marketing expense for the year ended December 31, 2008 remained constant at $22 million compared to 2007.

Amortization expense for the fourth quarter 2008 increased slightly to $3.4 million from $3.2 million in the corresponding period a year ago. For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2008, amortization expense increased slightly to $12.6 million from $12.5 million in 2007.

As at December 31 2008, Paladin's cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities totaled $21.3 million. From this strong cash position, Paladin continues to pursue product acquisition opportunities.

Financial Outlook

In 2009, Paladin expects to generate at least $100 million in revenue. This forecast excludes the impact of acquisitions that may be made by the Company between now and the end of 2009.

Conference Call Notice

Paladin will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results today at 10:00 a.m. EST. The dial-in number for the conference call is 1-800-732-0232 or 416-644-3419. The call will be audio-cast live and archived for 31 days at www.paladinlabs.com.

(1) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) does not have any standardized meaning under Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, taxes, amortization, and unusual items; such as write-downs and gains (losses) on intellectual property and investments. EBITDA is calculated and presented consistently from period to period and agrees, on a consolidated basis, with the amount disclosed as "Earnings before under noted items" on the consolidated statement of income. The Company believes EBITDA to be an important measurement that allows it to assess the operating performance of its ongoing business on a consistent basis without the impact of amortization expenses. The Company excludes amortization expenses because their level depends substantially on non-operating factors such as the historical cost of intangible and capital assets. The Company's method for calculating EBITDA may differ from that used by other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to EBITDA used by other issuers.

About Paladin Labs Inc.

Paladin Labs Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing innovative pharmaceutical products. With this strategy, a focused Canadian national sales team and proven marketing expertise, Paladin has evolved into one of Canada's leading specialty pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.paladinlabs.com.

These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Companies consider the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but caution that these assumptions regarding the future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Companies and their subsidiaries, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, are discussed in the annual reports, as well as in the Companies' Annual Information Forms for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Companies disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether a result of new information, future events, or except as required by law. For additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements, investors should consult the Companies' ongoing quarterly filings, annual reports and Annual Information Forms and other filings found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                      December 31           December 31
                                             2008                  2007
                                                $                     $
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       (unaudited)           (audited(1))
ASSETS
Current
Cash                                        4,646                 6,074
Marketable securities                      14,753                26,041
Accounts receivable                        17,889                11,920
Inventory                                   8,643                 6,781
Other current assets                        2,531                 2,943
Income taxes receivable                     4,209                     -
Investment tax credits receivable              36                   244
Investment tax credits recoverable             43                     -
Future income tax assets                    9,120                 2,992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets                       61,870                56,995

Long-term marketable securities             1,943                 4,101
Investment tax credits recoverable              -                   773
Capital assets                                594                   300
Pharmaceutical product licences
 and rights                                58,152                24,366
Deferred charges                                -                 1,415
Investments                                 4,792                 4,041
Future income tax assets                    4,789                 6,874
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                              132,140                98,905
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current
Accounts payable and
 accrued liabilities                       16,464                11,582
Accounts payable to related parties         1,384                 1,032
Deferred revenue                            1,693                   271
Income taxes payable                        6,391                 2,056
Balance of sale payable                    10,429                    89
Future income tax liabilities                  90                     -
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities                  36,451                15,030

Future income tax liabilities                 341                 1,357
Balance of sale payable                         -                   518
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                          36,792                16,905
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Shareholders' equity
Capital stock                              60,664                59,797
Other paid-in capital                       3,155                 2,019
Accumulated other comprehensive loss       (1,420)                 (324)
Retained earnings                          32,949                20,508
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity                 95,348                82,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and
 shareholders' equity                     132,140                98,905
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Derived from the audited annual financial statements filed on SEDAR at
    www.sedar.com



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands of Canadian dollars except for share and per share amounts)

                             Three-month period     Twelve-month period
                              ended December 31       ended December 31
                               2008        2007        2008        2007
                                  $           $           $           $
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited(1))

Revenues                     23,051      17,697      82,744      62,941
Cost of sales                 5,311       4,023      20,150      14,289
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit                 17,740      13,674      62,594      48,652
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Expenses (income)
Selling and marketing         5,472       7,352      22,017      22,003
General and administrative    2,685       1,269       7,749       5,231
Research and development      2,578         515       5,527       2,989
Interest income                (410)       (386)     (1,720)     (1,484)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before
 under-noted items            7,415       4,925      29,021      19,913
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Amortization of
 pharmaceutical product
 licenses, rights and
 deferred charges             3,367       3,175      12,598      12,504
Unrealized net loss on
 derivative instruments         536          13         531         364
Net loss (gain)
 on investments                   -        (415)        185        (565)
Other income                      -        (348)       (330)       (348)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes
 and extraordinary items      3,512       2,500      16,037       7,958
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Provision for income taxes
Current                       1,234         807       4,977       1,766
Future                          234         663       1,334       2,033
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                              1,468       1,470       6,311       3,799
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income before
 extraordinary gain           2,044       1,030       9,726       4,159
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Extraordinary gain
 (net of $nil taxes)          4,072           -       4,072       4,874
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income for the period     6,116       1,030      13,798       9,033
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share before
 extraordinary gain
Basic                          0.14        0.07        0.66        0.28
Diluted                        0.14        0.07        0.65        0.27

Earnings per share
Basic                          0.41        0.07        0.93        0.60
Diluted                        0.41        0.07        0.92        0.59
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Weighted average number
 of shares outstanding
Basic                    14,867,535  14,884,960  14,846,306  15,008,544
Diluted                  15,066,475  15,154,079  15,071,283  15,319,692
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

                             Three-month period     Twelve-month period
                              ended December 31       ended December 31
                               2008        2007        2008        2007
                                  $           $           $           $
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited(1))

Operating activities
Net income                    6,116       1,030      13,798       9,033
Add items not affecting cash
 Amortization                 3,447       3,205      12,814      12,600
 Future income taxes         (5,821)       (221)     (4,721)     (3,792)
 Stock-based
  compensation expense          351         228       1,400         977
 Unrealized loss on
  derivative financial
  instruments                   536          13         531         364
 Write-down of investment         -           -         394           -
 Accreted interest income      (154)        (11)       (273)        (49)
 Gain on disposal
  of investments                  -        (415)       (209)       (565)
 Gain on disposal of
  pharmaceutical product
  licenses and rights             -           -        (200)          -
 Other income                     -        (348)          -        (348)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                              4,475       3,481      23,534      18,220
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in non-cash
 balances relating to
 operations                   5,959         301       1,618        (450)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from
 operating activities        10,434       3,782      25,152      17,770
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Investing activities
Additions to
 pharmaceutical product
 licenses and rights,
 and deferred charges       (15,227)        (36)    (34,562)    (13,327)
Investment in
 portfolio companies              -           -      (3,000)       (801)
Business acquisition         (1,446)          -      (1,446)       (650)
Acquisition of
 capital assets                (113)       (123)       (510)       (245)
Purchases of short-term
 marketable securities       (8,059)    (16,367)    (37,084)    (42,353)
Maturities of
 marketable securities       16,859      13,470      52,576      49,626
Purchases of long-term
 marketable securities          (78)     (4,101)     (1,973)     (4,101)
Repayment of current
 balance of sale payable          -           -        (531)       (227)
Proceeds from disposal
 of investment                    -           -         500         232
Proceeds from disposal of
 a pharmaceutical license         -           -         200           -
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows used in
 investing activities        (8,064)     (7,157)    (25,828)    (11,846)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Financing activities
Repurchase of shares              -         (13)     (2,269)     (3,629)
Common shares issued for cash   563          73       1,517       1,010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from (used in)
 financing activities           563          60        (752)     (2,619)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Net change in cash
 during the period            2,933      (3,315)     (1,428)      3,305
Cash, beginning of period     1,713       9,389       6,074       2,769
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash, end of period           4,646       6,074       4,646       6,074
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash                          4,646       6,074
Short-term
 marketable securities       14,753      26,041
Long-term
 marketable securities        1,943       4,101
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                             21,342      36,216
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Contacts:
Paladin Labs Inc.
Samira Sakhia
Chief Financial Officer
514-669-5367
514-344-4675 (FAX)
info@paladin-labs.com
www.paladinlabs.com

MORE ON THIS TOPIC